PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 36, 11 August 1936, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. today.

Mr. A. F. Moncur (Government, Eotorua) asked the Minister'in Charge Of the Police Department whether he would consider cancelling the instruction that policemen travelling on escort duty must be in uniform.

. The Hon.. P. Fraser replied: "I am quite prepared to consider the question raised by the honourable member with a view of ascertaining whether it is practicable for the suggestion to be adopted." CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION. Mr. W..J. Poison (National, Stratford) asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware of the activities of two public servants who were well known, to be leading Communists in addressing the recent meeting called to form the Clerical Workers' Union; and, if so, would he indicate whether their action had the. approval of the Government; and, if not, what acticn he intended to take. <

Mr. Savage said he was not aware of any action on the part of public servants which could be interpreted as being an infringement of the Government's policy of'extending full political and civil rights to all public servants. ■".■■■■'.

Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the proposed legislation to be passed by the Queensland Parliament to abolish the draft allowance of lib in every hundredweight of wxjol sold, whereby a saving £60,000 a year would be obtained by the wool growers, end would the Government bring down similar legislation in the present session of Parliament to assist the wool growers of New Zealand.

Mr. Savage replied: "The Government is fully aware of the legislation that is proposed to be passad in certain of . the ■: Australian States, and is having investigation made as to its application in New Zealand." LATE. SOUTH ISLAND SEATS. Mr. T. D. Burnett (National, Temuka) asked the. Prime Minister whether, as a policy, measure, and seeing that as a result of the late Census, the, South Island would again lose from one to two.seats to the .North. Island, he would provide a minimum representation of thirty members for the South Island, allotting extra representation to the North Island but not at the expense of the South Island.

• Mr. Savage said that the matter of representation was at present receiving the consideration of the Government. . PROTECTING INDUSTRY. Mr. E. "A. Wright (Independent, Wellington Suburbs) asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether, having regard to the public declarations made, by the Government on the subject of encouraging and safeguarding the interests of secondary industries in New Zealand against competition from similar industries overseas, he would indicate the class or classes of such industries and the nature of action contemplated by the Government.

The Hon. D. ,G. Sullivan replied: "The honourable member is informed that the public declarations which have been 'made from time, to; time. ,-have been statements of general policy/Upon, such a subject of a, considerable magnitude, and affecting as it does many aspects of international trade and relations, it is .impracticable at this stage to name any specific class or classes of goods' the production, of which is to be-encouraged, or to state .any action contemplated by the Government to secure that encouragement. Each industry requiring encouragement or protection is being considered separately, while at the:same time the whole position of our secondary industries is being examined so as to determine the.best manner, in which the scope and operation of these industries might be expanded." . MATJI POMARE DISPUTE.

Mr. Poison asked the Prime Minister -whether he would inform the House if the principle, as reported iri the Press, in securing the reinstatement of two insubordinate seamen was to apply to all departments of the Public Service, and what, if any,- were the obligations of the Government to the Hon. O. F. Nelson which- made it necessary to ensure- that the departure of the above-named gentleman should not be delayed.

Mr.: Savage replied: "The Government was under, no obligation to arrange the passage of the Hon. O. F. Nelson by the Maui Pomare. The Government will at all times apply reason and common sense to the relations between departments and their employees. There are no undertakings between the Government and Mr. Nelson.

(Proceeding.)